Australia accelerates missile upgrade due to growing threats from China, Russia
- Australia’s decision to accelerate rearming fighter jets and warships years ahead of schedule, comes after China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands
- Solomons-China deal lets Beijing send warships to islands leading to speculation of a Chinese naval base to increase its military foothold in Pacific
Australia has accelerated plans to buy long-range strike missiles years ahead of schedule because of growing threats posed by Russia and China.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Tuesday the accelerated rearming of fighter jets and warships would cost 3.5 billion Australian dollars (US$2.6 billion) and increase Australia’s deterrence to potential adversaries.
“There was a working assumption that an act of aggression by China toward Taiwan might take place in the 2040s. I think that timeline now has been dramatically compressed,” Dutton told Seven Network television.
“When we look at what’s happened in the Ukraine, there is the prospect of Russian going into Poland or somewhere else in Europe. That would be a repeat of the 1930s and that’s not something that we should allow to happen,” Dutton added, referring to the beginning of World War II.
Under a revised timetable, FA-18F Super Hornet fighter jets would be armed with improved US-manufactured air-to-surface missiles by 2024, three years earlier than planned.
The JASSM-ER missiles would enable fighters to engaged targets at a range of 900 kilometres.
Australia’s ANZAC Class frigates and Hobart Class destroyers would be equipped with Norwegian-made Kongsberg NSM missiles by 2024, five years ahead of schedule.
The missiles would more than double the warships’ strike range.